How to Tie Shoelaces into a Star or Pentagram: Easy Steps for Any Sneaker

Jazz up your Converse, Nikes, or Vans with pentagram lacing

Co-authored by Chance Dubinick and Sophie Burkholder, BA

Last Updated: September 26, 2025 Fact Checked

• Standard Star Lacing (Converse, Nike, Vans)
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• Inverted Star Lacing (Any Sneaker)
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• Video
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• Tips

|Show more |Show less

Why lace your shoes the old-fashioned way when you can turn them into a star? 🤩 With this quick and easy guide to pentagram lacing, you can turn your shoelaces into two different varieties of stars: the classic version (which will look right-side-up to other people), or the inverted version (which’ll look right-side-up to the wearer). Plus, we’ll take you through the steps to do star shoelaces on any popular sneaker type with any number of eyelets—including Converse, Vans, and Nike Air Force 1s.

Tying Star Shoelaces: Visual Guide

1. String one end of the shoelace between the fourth eyelets on either side.
2. Take the end of the lace on the right side and string it through the 7th eyelet.
3. Pull the same end of the lace over the shoe and through the leftmost 7th eyelet.
4. Use the other lace to connect the 1st (left) and 4th (right) eyelets.
5. Thread the same shoelace end through the first eyelet on the right side.
6. Use the same end of the shoelace to connect the 4th (left) and 1st (left) eyelets.
7. Pull the end under the bottom “X,” over the 4th-eyelet bar, and over the top bar.
8. Wrap the lace around the top bar, then thread it through the 1st (right) eyelet.

Steps

Section 1 of 2:

Classic Star Shoelace Tutorial for Sneakers

1. 
   1
   Place the right shoe on a flat surface with the toe pointing toward you. To begin, place your high-top or low-top sneaker on a flat surface in front of you. Start with the right shoe, and orient it so that the toe of the shoe is pointing toward you as you look down on it.

   • If you want to lace Nike Air Force 1s in a star shape, you can follow this exact same set of steps!

   For the rest of this tutorial, we’ll refer to the eyelets (or holes) as 1 (closest to the toe) through 8 (closest to the top of the shoe).

   Similarly, when we say the “left” or “right” side of the shoe or a shoelace, we’re talking about your left or right as you lace the shoe.
2. 
   2
   String one end of the shoelace between the fourth eyelets on either side. Count up from the toe to find the fourth eyelet (from the bottom) on the right side of the shoe (from your perspective). Take one of your shoelaces, which should be currently unattached to the sneaker, and thread it through this fourth eyelet. Start on the outside of the shoe, so the lace moves toward the center of the shoe (or “tongue”) as you thread it through the rightmost eyelet.

   • Then, take this same end of the lace and thread it through the fourth eyelet on the left side of the shoe (from your perspective.
   • Again, you’re starting from the outside of the shoe. Take the lace over the tongue, around to the left side of the shoe, and thread it through the fourth eyelet on that side.
   • You should now have a straight line (or “bar”) between the fourth eyelets on your sneaker, with the loose lace ends left on the inside of the shoe.
   • Adjust the loose ends of the shoe lace so that the left side is about 4 inches (100 mm) longer than the right.
   • If you want to lace Old Skool Vans in a star shape, use the 6th eyelet instead of the 4th eyelet for this step. When we reference a “4th eyelet” in any following steps, read it as the “6th eyelet” for your Vans.
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3. 
   3
   Take the end of the lace on the right side and string it through the 7th eyelet. On the right side of the shoe, grab hold of the loose lace end and move it up to the 7th eyelet (from the bottom). From the inside of the shoe to the outside, thread the lace through this eyelet.

   • If you’re using low-top Converse or Old Skool Vans, use the top eyelet on your shoe as the “7th eyelet.” For the rest of these steps, any time you see “7th eyelet,” read it as “top eyelet”!
4. 
   4
   Pull the same end of the lace over the shoe and through the leftmost 7th eyelet. Take the end of the lace that you just pulled through the right side and carry it over to the left side of the shoe. From the outside of the shoe to the inside of the shoe, thread this same end through the seventh eyelet on the left.

   • Once you’ve done that away, tuck it behind the tongue (for now) to keep it out of the way.
5. 
   5
   Return to the other lace end and use it to connect the 1st (left) and 4th (right) eyelets. Take hold of the free shoelace end that you haven’t just used on the 7th eyelets. Pull it down to the first eyelet on the left side, making sure that it stays under the bar between the fourth eyelets. Then, thread it through the first eyelet on the left side, going from inside the shoe to outside. Thread that same end of lace through the fourth eyelet on the right side, from the outside to the inside of the shoe.

   • This fourth eyelet should already have a lace going through it when you do this step.
6. 
   6
   Thread the same shoelace end through the first eyelet on the right side. Still working with the same end of the shoelace, pull it up to tighten, then maneuver it under all of the already-threaded shoelaces and toward the toe of the sneaker. Then, pass it through the first eyelet on the right side, going from inside to outside.

   • Make sure to tighten your laces to a normal tightness after each of these steps.
7. 
   7
   Use the same end of the shoelace to connect the 4th (left) and 1st (left) eyelets. Take your shoelace end up to the fourth eyelet on the left side. This time, let the lace lie on top of all the other shoelaces it overlaps with. Thread it through the fourth eyelet, from outside to in. Then, move the end of the lace to the first eyelet on the left side, but keep it underneath any other laces it overlaps with. Thread it through the first eyelet on the left, moving from inside to out.
8. 
   8
   Pull this lace end under the bottom “X,” over the 4th-eyelet bar, and over the top bar. Take the lace you’re currently working with and pull it upward and over the tongue. Weave it under the diagonal line extending from the 4th left eyelet to the 1st right eyelet. Weave it over each of the bars going between the 4th and 7th eyelet pairs.
9. 
   9
   Wrap the lace around the top bar, then thread it through the 1st (right) eyelet. Pull the lace end over, around, and under the top bar that’s running between the 7th eyelets. Moving toward the toe, weave it over the bar between the 4th eyelets and under the diagonal line between the 4th right and 1st left eyelet. Then, thread the lace through the first eyelet on the right side, working from the outside in.
10. 
    10
    Pull the lace under the tongue to the top of the shoe, adjust as needed, and tie. Maneuver the end of the shoelace under the tongue and bring it to the top of the shoe, where the opposite end of the lace should be. Then, adjust your laces until you like the look of the star and the tightness of the shoe. Finally, secure the laces by tying the two ends into a knot behind the top of the tongue—then repeat all of these steps with your other shoe!

    • If you’re lacing Old Skool Vans, you might not have enough length on your shoelaces to tie them. In this case, just leave the ends hanging out of the top eyelets.
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Section 2 of 2:

Inverted Star or Pentagram Lacing (Any Sneaker)

1. 
   1
   Place your sneaker on a flat surface with the toe pointing toward you. Before the actual lacing, set your high- or low-top sneaker on a steady surface. Stand or sit as you would when lacing the shoe, and orient the shoe so that its toe is pointing toward you.

   • These steps should work for most high-top and low-top sneakers. This includes low-top Converse, high-top Converse, Old Skool Vans, and Nike Air Force 1s.
   • However, if you’re not happy with the proportions or tightness of your star shape, simply adjust which eyelets you’ve threaded your laces through until it works for you!

   For the rest of this tutorial, we’ll refer to the eyelets (or holes) as 1 (closest to the toe) through 8 (closest to the top of the shoe).

   Similarly, when we say the “left” or “right” side of the shoe or a shoelace, we’re talking about your left or right as you lace the shoe.
2. 
   2
   Thread one end of your shoelace through the 1st left eyelet and tie a knot. Take one end of your shoelace and string it through the first eyelet (closest to the toe) on the left side of the shoe (from your perspective). Start from the outside and move the end of the lace inward. Then, tie a knot as close to the just-threaded end of the lace as you can. Pull on the opposite end and away from the shoe to check that the knot prevents the lace from being pulled out of the eyelet.

   • From this point on, you’ll only be working with the untied end of the shoelace.
3. 
   3
   Take the loose end of the lace and thread it through the 1st eyelet on the right. Pull the unknotted end of the shoelace over the center of the shoe to the right side. Working from the outside of the shoe to the inside, string the end of the lace through the first eyelet (closest to the toe.

   • You should now have a straight lace (or “bar”) between your first eyelet pair. Adjust this bar, if needed, to make sure it lies flat and isn’t twisted.
4. 
   4
   Thread the lace through the 3rd right eyelet and connect it to the 3rd left eyelet. From the inside of the shoe, take the lace and string it through the third eyelet on the right side. Then, thread the lace into the third eyelet on the left side of the shoe, working from outside in.
5. 
   5
   String the lace through the 6th left eyelet and wrap it around the bottom bar. Pull the end of the shoelace up over the tongue and, from the inside out, thread it through the sixth eyelet on the left. Then, pull the end of the shoelace toward the toe of the sneaker, making sure to weave it under the 3rd-eyelet bar. Take the lace over the bar nearest the toe, then wrap it around and under this bar.

   • Again, make any necessary adjustments between each step to keep your laces taut and flat.
6. 
   6
   Now, use the lace to connect the 6th right eyelet to the 3rd right eyelet. From the outside of the sneaker to the inside of the sneaker, string the lace through the sixth eyelet on the right. Then, from the inside to the outside, string the lace through the third eyelet on the right.
7. 
   7
   Repeat the previous step on the left side of the shoe. Move from the third eyelet on the right to the sixth eyelet on the left, and let the lace go over any other laces that are already in place. From the outside in, move the lace through the sixth eyelet on the left. Then, string it through the third eyelet on the left, from the inside out.
8. 
   8
   Weave the lace between the diagonal laces and through the 6th right eyelet. Starting from the third eyelet on the left, pull the lace across the tongue and toward the right side of the shoe. Make sure it goes under the first diagonal lace and over the second one that it overlaps with. Then, thread it through the sixth eyelet on the right, working from the outside in.
9. 
   9
   Create a double bar between the 6th eyelet pair. Move the lace from the sixth eyelet on the right and string it through the sixth eyelet on the left, pulling it from the inside of the shoe to the outside. Then, pull the lace back over into the sixth eyelet on the right, from outside to inside. Pull gently to slightly tighten your laces and make sure that they’re all taut (but not scrunched up).
10. 
    10
    Tie a knot under the 6th right eyelet, then cut the excess lace. To secure your pentagram lacing into place, tie a knot in the shoelace as close as possible to the sixth eyelet on your right. You want this knot to be on the inside of the shoe so that it can’t be seen from the outside. Once the knot is securely tied and adjusted to your desired tightness, cut off any excess on the lace.

    • If you don’t want to cut your laces (aka, you want to be able to adjust the tightness later), you can also tuck the excess under the sneaker’s tongue or insole (if there is one). Whatever works for you!
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Tips

• Star shoelaces are super cool and aesthetically pleasing, but they may be tricky to tighten and also prevent a looser fit of the shoe on the foot.
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• Keep in mind that the inverted star (or pentagram) is used and viewed as a Satanic or occult symbol by some.
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